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E. MOARD.

SIGNALING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED riaizo. I914.

Patented Aug. 12, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES uvvnvron Eric Moartl,

WhQ ATTORNEY THE COLUMBIA vLANoulnPn 0 WASIHNGTQN,

E. MOARD.

SIGNALING DEVICE- APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20. 1914.

1,313,006. P11611161 Aug. 12, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Fig: 4- Fig:

' INVENTOR 3 1 Eric Moard,

ma COLUMBIA PLANOORAPII co., WASHINGTON, n1 :1

BY 1 I ,4 RIVE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERIC MOARD, OF EAST HAMPTON, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO BEVIN BROTHERSMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF EAST HAMPTON, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORA- TION orCONNECTICUT.

SIGNALING DEVICE.

Application filed February 20, 1914. Serial No. 819,868.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Euro MoARn, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of East Hampton, in the county of MiddleseX and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSignaling Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescriptlon, whereby any one skilled in the art may make and use thesame.

The invention relates to signaling devices, alarms or horns wherein adiaphragm is mechanically agitated to secure the required sound.

It relates more particularly to the wellknown type of signaling deviceswhich are commonly employed for motor horns and may be used as asignaling device for automobiles, launches, boats or fog-signals or infact, wherever a signal or alarm device is desirable. p

More specifically, it relates to the class of devices in which adiaphragm is vibrated at high velocity and with an amplitude which issufficient to produce sounds of great intensity and carrying power.

While the invention embodies a vibratory diaphragm and means foragitating the diaphragm of a more or less commonly employed form, italso embodies a driving mechanism for the agitator which may bemanipulated at will by the operator with as great or as little force asmay be desired. Thus, the resultant vibration of the diaphragm isdirectly under the control of the operator.

In horns of the general type herein described which employ electricmotors or similar motor-actuating devices, it is quite obvious that thefull intensity of vibration of the diaphragm cannot be instantlysecured, as, of course, the motor or similar device must be brought upto its full torque and speed before such a condition can be reached.Furthermore, the engaging parts between the diaphragm and motor veryoften come to rest in such position that an unusual strain is placedupon the motor as it starts to actuate the vibrator. In fact, freezingof the parts is not an uncommon occurrence.

In the invention herein described, the mechanism is so actuated that agreater or less amount of force may be applied as de- Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented Aug. 12, 1919.

sired and the greatest intensity of force may be applied instantly tothe vibratory mechanism or it may be gradually applied. 7

This arrangement provides a means for sounding an extremely sharp highpitched note during the full period of operation or the note may be oneof gradually ascending and descending quality or the note may be raisedand lowered during a single manipulation of the device. In fact, greatlatitude of operation is permitted. This latitude of manipulation is dueto the factthat an extremely high speed can be immediately imparted tothe mechanism which with its fiy-wheel will maintain the speed for asubstantial period of time or the cord may be manipulated with lessforce and gradually increasing intensity or the cord may be manipulatedrepeatedly maintaining either a high degree of speed or permittingrelatively high speeds with each unwinding of the cord. I

The objects of the invention are to provide a simple compact device, inwhichthe mani ulation of the vibratory mechanism e manually actuated andcontrolled at w1 r A further object is to provide a device in whichinertia will be overcome through a fly-wheel effect and in which, with aminimumexpenditure of energy, signals of varying intensity may beproduced. 7

A further object is to provide for an extremely rapid and long continuedmovement of the vibrating mechanism with a comparatively short movementof the actuating devices.

A still further object is to provide for convenient and positiveadjustment of the various parts of the mechanism from the exterior .ofthe casing.

Referring to the drawings: Figure l is a perspective view of thesignaling device.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation. Fig. 3 is a sectional view with parts brokenaway, on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of the horn or mouthpiece with thediaphragm and vi-' bratory arm.

Fig. 5 is a View in elevation, showing the anism.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the cam actuating mechanism with the frontplate re moved.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view through the cam spindle and appurtenantparts.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing the driving shaft, spring drum andappurtenant ratchet and gear.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a detail view illustrating the adjustability of the mechanismwithin the cas- 111 The entire mechanism making up the device iscompletely inclosed in a casing, though it is adjustable and operablefrom the exterior thereof.

As illustrated in the drawings, there is a horn or resonator 1 whichterminates in a flange 2 to which is secured the casing 3 through themedium of flange 4 and screws or similar devices 5.

The flange 2 and the flange 4 serves as a suitable clamp for holding thediaphragm 6 which is preferably separated from the flange 2 of the hornor resonator 1 by a gasket 7 The horn section 1 has formed at one side abracket 8 by which the device, as a whole, may be secured in any desiredmanner. Secured to the diaphragm, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, thereis a vibratory arm or striker 9 which, as illustrated, is at tached tothe center of the diaphragm as at 10 and projects across the face of thediaphragm, to which it is secured adjacent to one edge, as by a rivet11. This arm 9 has preferably formed up from it a boss 12 which isadapted to be struck by the surface 13 of a cam wheel 14. As the camwheel 14 is rapidly rotated, its cam surfaces ride against the boss 12and thereby vibrate the diaphragm 6 with a frequency dependent upon therate of rotation of the cam wheel 14.

The cam wheel and its shaft, together with gearing and driving mechanismtherefor, is suitably supported in an adjustable frame which, asillustrated, consists of two disks 15, 16 of a size adapted to fitclosely within the cylindrical section 3 of the casing.

This frame-work, with its appurtenant parts, may be readily adjusted inthe casing and locked thereto by screws or other suitable clampingdevices 17 which project through slots 18 in the casing and engage tangs19 suitably pressed up from the rear frame plate 16.

The plates 15, 16 are suitably spaced by tubular members 20 and areclamped together by bolts extending therethrough and engaged by nuts 21.This construction gives an extremely rigid form of frame work andpermits the use of a comparatively thin casing inasmuch as it provides astiffener which will prevent collapse of the casing 3 except under themost unusual compression strains. Extending between the plates 15, 16 isa main driving shaft 22 which is free to rotate with reference to theplates and upon which is loosely mounted a driving gear 23. Secured to asquared section of the shaft 22, there is a ratchet 24 and at the outerend of the shaft and arranged outside of the plate 16 there is a springwinding drum 25 which is also fast with reference to the shaft 22 andratchet 24. Between the ratchet 24 and end of the spring winding drum,there is a bushing 26 which is preferably secured in the plate 16 by atight fit.

About the bushing 26 is wound a spring 27, one end 28 of which issecured to the plate 16 while the opposite end 29 is secured to thewinding drum 25.

The winding drum, as illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, consists of acylindrical portion 30 having a flange 31 adjacent to the plate 16 whichflange with a washer 32 forms a groove within which'may rest theactuating cord or strap 33.

To hold the cord or strap upon the drum 25 as it is wound or unwoundtherefrom, a sleeve 34 is provided which projects through the rear endof the casing 3 and has a flange 35 whichrests against the inside of thecasing. This sleeve 34 has a suitable opening through which the cord orpull strap 33 may freely pass.

WVith the strap or pull cord wound upon the drum 25, a pull upon thecord will rotate the drum and the main shaft 22 with its ratchet 24. Theratchet 24, through a spring pawl 24. will rotate the driving gear 23.During the unwinding of the cord from the drum, the spring 27 will bewound up and as the cord is released, it will be again wound spectiveframe plates 15, 16 and supports upon the drum.

The main driving gear 23 is in mesh with a pinion 36 upon the cam shaft37. This shaft has suitable bearings 38, 39 in the reat its inner endthe cam disk 14. It is also provided with a fly wheel 40.

The bearing 39 has an extended portion 41 which projects through therear of the casing 3 and in the outer end of the extension 41 there isarranged an adjusting screw 42 which is provided with a lock nut 43.This ad usting screw provides for a fine adjustment of the cam disk 14with reference to the striker lug 12 and it is to be observed that theadjustment is to be made from the exterior of the casing.

In assembling the device, a nominal adjustment may be secured by movingthe frame plates 15, 16 with reference to the casing 3 but to secure thefinal adjustment so that the cam will strike the luv 12 with a properdegree of contact, the line adjusting screw 42 is employed.

With the fiy-wheel 40 upon the cam shaft 37, it is apparent that a quickpull upon the cord 33 will, through the large driving gear 23 cause avery rapid rotation of the pinion 36 and the shaft 37 together with theflywheel 40. With proper impetus given to the pull, the fly-wheel willkeep the shaft 37 in motion for a considerable period of time.

Any desired degree of force may, of course, be applied to the pull cordor strap 33 as this is to be manually actuated either by the hand orfoot and it is apparent that by giving a full strong pull upon the cordor strap, the cam 14 will almost immediately be rotated at its fullcorresponding speed. This, of course, will give a high pitched sharpalarm.

If the speed with which the pull cord is unwound from the drum isgradually increased, the corresponding speed of the cam 14 will bevaried to give a gradually ascendin note which will be maintained untilthe e ect of the fly-wheel is lost and thereupon the tone will descend.As many strokes may be given to the pull cord as desired and with theratchet and pawl mechanism shown, a succession of pulls upon the cord 33will maintain a high speed of the cam shaft 37 with the result that acontinued high-pitched signal will be given.

It is apparent that with this mechanism various modulations may be givento the character of the signal and it may be made harsher or softer andmay be maintained for.

greater or less periods depending upon the manipulation of the cord.

One particular advantage heretofore referred to, resides in the abilityto apply immediately a sufficient pull to give a high speed to the camshaft 37 This provides for a sharp high-pitched signal without theascending note effect which is a prevailing characteristic of signalinghorns employing electric or spring motors.

The device contains a minimum number of parts which may be readilyassembled or taken down for inspection and the whole device may beconstructed at a very low cost as compared with the motor horns.Furthermore, it is extremely compact and light and may be applied in anydesired position on the automobile, launch or wherever desired.

To maintain the sleeve 34 in its outermost Copies of this patent may beobtained for five cents each, by addressing the position, where it willcompletely incase the drum 25, a spring 34 is employed. This spring issecured to the inner face of the frame disk 16 and has its ends 35projecting through the plate and against the flange 35. This holds thesleeve 34: projected to its extreme limit through the rear of the casing3 as the disks l5, 16 are adjusted within the casing.

Obviously, the exact details for construction and arrangement of partsmight be varied to a considerable extent without departing from thespirit or intent of the invention and the exact form of cam, gears,

etc., may be modified to suit the exigencies of any particularrequirement.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:V

1. In a signaling device, a resonator, an inclosing casing to which theresonator is secured, a vibratory diaphragm between the resonator andthe casing, a cam for actuating the diaphragm rotatable in a planeparallel with the diaphragm, gearing arranged within the casing fordriving the cam, all of i the parts of said gearing moving about axesthat are perpendicular to the plane of the diaphragm, a winding drumconnected with the driving mechanism for actuating it, arranged outsideof the casing and disposed in a plane parallel with the diaphragm, and aflexible device wound upon the drum for rotating it.

2. In a signaling device embodying a vibratory diaphragm and a cam foroperating it, the herein described mechanism for actuating the camcomprising a shaft, a frame in which the shaft is supported, a windingdrum secured fast to the shaft, a bushing supported in the frame throughwhich bushing the shaft extends, a spring surrounding the bushingconnected at one end with the said frame and at the other with thewinding drum, a gear wheel loosely supported on the said shaft by whichthe said cam is actuated, and a pawl and ratchet connection be tween thesaid gear wheel and the shaft by which the former is driven.

ERIC MOAR-D.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

